You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible

You Gotta Eat is a practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone who struggles to put meals on the table. Margaret Eby, a writer and home cook, understands the overwhelm of daily cooking and offers actionable strategies to simplify the process. The book breaks down barriers like time constraints, lack of inspiration, and kitchen intimidation, emphasizing that feeding yourself doesn’t have to be complicated or Instagram-perfect. Eby shares relatable stories, budget-friendly recipes, and mindset shifts to help readers build confidence in the kitchen. She also tackles the emotional side of cooking, addressing how stress, fatigue, or past failures can derail even the best intentions.

With humor and empathy, Eby debunks the myth that cooking requires mastery. Instead, she focuses on small, sustainable habits—like batch-prepping basics or embracing “good enough” meals—to make cooking feel less like a chore. The book includes adaptable templates for meals (e.g., grain bowls, stir-fries) rather than rigid recipes, empowering readers to use what they have. Eby also highlights the joy of sharing food with others, even if it’s just a simple potluck or a frozen pizza night.

The author’s approach is anti-perfectionist, celebrating progress over polished results. She addresses modern challenges like grocery delivery overload, picky eaters, and the guilt of takeout guilt, reframing them as manageable hurdles. Each chapter ends with “Try This” prompts, encouraging readers to experiment without pressure. Eby’s voice feels like chatting with a supportive friend who’s been through the same struggles.

While not a traditional cookbook, You Gotta Eat includes easy, flavorful dishes like sheet-pan dinners, fridge-clearing soups, and desserts that require minimal effort. The focus is on flexibility—substituting ingredients, using leftovers creatively, and prioritizing taste without fuss. Eby also touches on food waste reduction and mindful eating, tying practicality to broader lifestyle values.

Ultimately, this book is for anyone who’s ever stood in front of an empty fridge and thought, “I don’t know how to feed myself.” It’s a compassionate roadmap to reclaiming your kitchen and finding satisfaction in the act of nourishing your body, one imperfect meal at a time.